The Challenge Facing Managed Care Organizations

The best test for oversaw care associations (MCOs) in our present time is the manner by which to get lower valued clinical expenses. As we as a whole know, American medicinal services ought to basically be a not-for-profit undertaking. Notwithstanding, the privatization of American medicinal services holds that social insurance all in all and emergency clinics specifically are progressively working on a revenue driven premise. Indeed, the revenue driven emergency clinic part has represented a moderately steady offer (around 15 percent) of medical clinic beds in the course of the most recent twenty years (Morrisson, 1999). This is the reason as of late the U.S. Congress attempts to push more â€Å"consumer-directed† wellbeing plan choices to keep away from destitute oversaw care associations (MCOs) to support their deductibles, raise premiums and even oppose government law by approving strategy holders to purchase doctor prescribed medications from minimal effort merchants in Canada (Smith, 23 September 2004). Overseen care associations (MCOs) frequently apply the customary expense for-administration models, which don't give sufficient budgetary controls and use motivating forces for doctors and medical clinics to contain the expenses of giving social insurance. Under oversaw care, the requirements of the patients are offset with endeavors to give financially savvy care. Normally, MCOs select endorsers by promising to give all vital clinical consideration in return for a fixed month to month premium. The MCO likewise contracts with emergency clinics, doctors, and other social insurance suppliers to apportion the important clinical consideration to its enrollees at a limited repayment rate. In return for tolerating decreased charges, the parental figures access the MCO’s enrolees (Kirby, Sebastian and Hornberger, 1998). An issue with oversaw care is that businesses who offer a wellbeing upkeep association (HMO) to their representatives regularly pay the premium as long as the HMO premium was not higher than the charge for-administration premium. This conduct by businesses makes mutilated motivators for the HMO in controlling its expenses. Enthoven (1993) recommended that this motivation bending can be remedied when businesses configuration better options for their manager commitments. The business could contribute a fixed-dollar sum for medical coverage with the representative paying the full distinction between plans. The more prominent the segment of the minor premium paid by the representatives is, the more grounded the motivating force is to pick lower-cost plans. For instance, if the business pays 80 percent of the premium and the representative pays the rest of, the worker pays just 20 percent of the contrast between the low (let’s assume here) HMO premium and the higher expense for-administration premium. HMOs and other oversaw care courses of action are composed on a prepayment premise that show up in a wide assortment of structures. A HMO could recruit doctors on a pay, contract with a previous gathering practice of doctors, or agreement with doctors who keep up a charge for-administration practice. As indicated by Luft (1991), â€Å"Because explicit social, legitimate, authentic, political, and financial parts of the clinical consideration condition have formed conveyance frameworks, for example, the HMO, it isn't sensible to expect that the run of the mill HMO could be transplanted flawless to another country† (p. 173). The way to HMO cost reserve funds is the organization’s wide scope of clinical administrations, both inpatient and outpatient. Along these lines, the HMO can get the cost reserve funds suggested by diminished clinic use. This might be hard to oversee in frameworks where there are isolated financing systems for essential consideration doctors and inpatient care. As Luft (1991, p. 180) comments. â€Å"If there were no real way to move assets from the ‘hospital side’ to the ‘physician side,’ it is hard to remunerate clinical chiefs for the advancement of more financially savvy practice styles.† This is the reason three territories seem to offer a greatness of chances where MCOs can help patients, these are mobile consideration, emotional wellness and the elective treatments. Right off the bat, mobile consideration delicate conditions mirror the quality and accessibility of essential consideration administrations, since they are promptly treatable without the requirement for hospitalization. There are contrasts in the hospitalization rate for wandering consideration touchy conditions. Shenkman et al. (2005) had demonstrated that claim to fame wandering consideration is significant for some youngsters with incessant conditions. Be that as it may, access to such mind might be compelled inside oversaw care conditions. The utilization of essential consideration suppliers (PCPs) as watchmen for oversaw care associations (MCOs) is one regularly utilized system to control forte mind use. Investigations of the effect of gatekeeping on youngsters' receipt of strength care have brought about blended discoveries. A few investigations discovered more strength care use in gatekeeping MCOs, contrasted and non-gatekeeping MCOs. Different analysts found that the supplanting of a gatekeeping framework with an open-get to show expanded claim to fame visits among a gathering of kids with incessant conditions. Despite the fact that the emphasis on gatekeeping when all is said in done yields some significant data, MCOs utilize numerous different systems associatively with their PCP watchmen, for example, capitated installments, money related impetuses, and earlier approval techniques. The utilization of these accompanying procedures may meet the novel needs of kids with incessant conditions, including their requirement for claim to fame doctor care. Then again, oversaw care had been critical patron on conveyance frameworks for emotional well-being administrations. Taylor et al. (2001) had shown that immediate and roundabout influence to give more financially savvy medicines has been one outcome. The cost-sparing characteristics and the adequacy of gathering mediations have created away from for an expanded utilization of treatment gatherings. In the exploration of Taylor et al. (2001), they looked at discernments and employments of gathering medicines on a national example of oversaw care associations and psychological wellness suppliers. Ramifications of contrasts and similitudes between chiefs of oversaw care associations and treatment suppliers are inspected and examined across five reaction classes (commonality/preparing apparent viability, probability of repayment/referral, day by day use and desire for sometime later). Taylor et al (2001) supported the methodology where MCOs adjust treatment referral/repayment choices. As of late distributed correlation result contemplates and meta-examinations can and ought to observationally direct the current treatment conveying frameworks. Ultimately, many oversaw care associations have just started to coordinate reciprocal and elective clinical treatments (CAM) with traditional clinical suppliers. Clinical experts are committed to evaluate CAM treatment with patients. Elective treatments expect experts to reexamine staff competency, persistent appraisal, and patient-centered consideration. Clinical pioneers must comprehend CAM patterns and treatments to more readily coordinate these ideas into medicinal services strategy, gauges of care, and moral choices (Parkman, 2001). Among walking care and emotional wellness care, elective treatments, or CAM, offers the most good and cost-proficient system for MCOs. This is on the grounds that the maturing â€Å"baby boom† age is starting to encounter incessant however non-dangerous conditions, for example, joint agony, migraines and menopause-related objections and they are eager to investigate choices other than physician endorsed drugs. For wellbeing plans, the fascination of offering elective consideration items lies in holding and drawing in new individuals, enhancing their administrations from rivals in a blocked oversaw care showcase and in endeavors to address current or proposed state orders (West, 1997). In 1997 alone, costs for proficient administrations were $21.2 billion, a 45% expansion over the previous 1990 information. Costs for proficient administrations, herbals, nutrients, diet items, books, and classes totaled $27 billion. Five overviews led since 1990 have revealed visit utilization of CAM, running from 30% to 73% by patients experiencing conditions, for example, cardiovascular malady, malignancy, joint inflammation, HIV and AIDS, numerous sclerosis, and ceaseless musculoskeletal torment. Moreover, the interest for CAM by the overall population is expanding, in spite of the way that its utilization is to a great extent paid by buyers without inclusion by outsider payers. In 1997, Americans spent an expected $13 billion for visits to CAM suppliers and an extra $2 billion for business diet supplements and over-the-counter megavitamins (Pelletier and Astin, 2002). Overseen care ought concentrate on cost investment funds, however they ought to likewise investigate enhancing their administrations. MCOs have for the most part added to the decrease in the U.S. wellbeing cost development rate. Their potential will keep on being constrained to the degree that businesses neglect to offer genuine monetary points of interest to customers who pick the minimal effort wellbeing plans. Accordingly, more changes in the approaches ought to be checked on and amended with the goal that more individuals could profit by the quality medicinal services everybody merits. References Enthoven, A.C. (1993). The History and Principles of Managed Competition. Wellbeing Affairs, supplement, 24-48. Kirby, E.G., Sebastian, J.G. what's more, Hornberger, K.D. (1998, Jan/Feb). The Effect of Normative Social powers on Managed Care Organizations: Implications for Strategic administration/Practitioner Response. Diary of Healthcare Management. 43(1):81-106. Luft, H. (1991). Interpreting the U.S. HMO Experience to Other Health System. Wellbeing Affairs 10:172-186. Morrison, I. (1999). Medicinal services in the New Millennium. NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Parkman, C. (2001, February). Elective Therapies Are Here to Stay. Nursing Management, 32(2): 36-40. Pelletier, K.R. furthermore, Astin, J.A. (2002, Jan/Feb). Incorporation and Reimbursement of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Managed Care and Insurance Providers: 2000 Update and Cohort Analysis. Elective Ther

Hinduism and Marriage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hinduism and Marriage - Research Paper Example It is basically the manner by which spirits of the existence accomplices are connected. In a Hindu marriage, the two accomplices may trade their separate jobs according to the interest of the circumstance for example a spouse may assume the job of a wife and the other way around. At times, the two accomplices go separate ways for quite a while until they are brought together after a real existence or two. The three essential destinations of a Hindu marriage organized appropriately are â€Å"dharma, praja (descendants) and rati (pleasure)† (Sociology Guide, 2011). Marriage in Hinduism isn't just a dharma for example a commitment but on the other hand is the samskara for example holy observance. Each Hindu should wed except if he/she has embraced the way of life of a sanyasi. â€Å"It is a basic part of the four ashramas (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa) and the four points (purusharthas) of human life, to be specific, dharma, artha (riches), kama (erotic delig hts ) and moksha (salvation)† (Jayaram, 2010). Her life as a lady ends as a Hindu lady goes into a conjugal relationship. After marriage, the young lady needs to live with her parents in law in their home and leave the parents’ home. The relationship with guardians after marriage gets insignificant and very formal. In like manner, numerous Hindu ladies become intellectually upset until they totally acknowledge and are totally acknowledged by the spouse just as his family. In its beginning periods, the marriage can both make and break. The good 'ol days in the husband’s home hold an extraordinary noteworthiness to the lady of the hour on the grounds that the impression she gives occasion to feel qualms about the parents in law in nowadays remains related with her for the duration of the life. Marriage in Hinduism can be characterized into five kinds running from the conventional orchestrated union with constrained relationships. In a greater part of cases, marriag e happens with due assent of the lady of the hour, the man of the hour and their family members. Components that are of essential significance in the event of the masterminded relationships in Hinduism incorporate however are not constrained to the natal diagrams, position, gotra for example connection, money related status, looks, and character. Relationships between cousins might be a standard relying on the area. In Southern India, it is typical for a person to wed a cousin. In old occasions, a bereaved Hindu lady was permitted to wed the sibling of the expired spouse in view of descendants. In times past, polygamy was normal in Hindus however it is nearly non-existent in the contemporary Hindu society. There has been an expansion in adoration relationships among Hindus over the progression of time, however their worthiness relies on the rank, money related status and a few different components talked about previously. Couples that break the standards and wed without due thought to rank need to hold up under social weight both inside and outside the family. In any case, as an ever increasing number of individuals are getting training in the urban setting, they have begun to become liberal which is the major reason for increment in the adoration relationships among Hindus. The endowment framework is a potential insidiousness of the Hindu marriage. Frequently, the spouse and his family members request share worth a great many dollars independent of the budgetary status of the bride’s guardians. In a male ruled society, such individuals take marriage for an occasion in which they can money the way that they parent a man. On the off chance that the bride’s family can not come up to their assumptions about share, the relative and the spouse subject the lady of the hour to various hardships and may even consume her to death.

IndieReader Brings Indie Authorship One Step Closer to Easy

IndieReader Brings Indie Authorship One Step Closer to Easy It doesnt take long to see that IndieReader is more than a blog for readers. In fact, the sites mission is clear in the tagline on the home page, which promises that IndieReader gives your book the tools to get noticed and that its a website run by authors and writers for authors and writers.In addition to the numerous book reviews and articles aimed at educating independent authors about marketing and the world of independent publishing, IndieReader also provides services focused on helping authors improve their books discoverability. This type of marketing expertise for independent authors is such valuable information, especially if you are new to the independent publishing scene and unsure of the steps to take to get your book written, published and then marketed toward success.IndieReader professional book reviewsAs its most well-known service, IndieReader offers exposure for independent authors through book reviews written by their team of professional reviewers. According to th e websites description, these professional reviewers include journalists, teachers, librarians, and published writers and are matched to books submitted for review based on their reading and genre preferences. The rating system used is as follows: one star = really bad; two stars = mediocre, but one or two bright spots; three stars = good, and worth reading; four stars = very good; and five stars = excellent and a must-read.The importance of getting book reviews is unquestionable in the world of independent authors. Author and publishing expert Jane Friedman puts it like this:New authorsâ€"certainly self-published authorsâ€"have no symbolic capital. They are not (yet) known for producing quality books that seduce readers to the degree that they are willing to part with some of their disposable income, not to mention time. Is it possible for self-publishing authors to create symbolic capital? Absolutely yes, and many have. In todays increasing online world of book shopping, I argue i t is book reviews that build symbolic capital.Jane FriedmanBeyond having professional book reviews written for your book, another great perk of paying for the IndieReader book review service is their monthly Best of roundup, where an All About the Book interview feature is published on their site for books that receive at least a 4-star rating. Book reviews that are given for each book submitted can also be distributed to other websites including Amazon, Barnes Noble, Ingram Book Company, and the Association of Independent Authors (AIA), which represents, advances, promotes and supports independent authors globally.Cost and process of a reviewThe cost of a review with a 7 to 9-week turnaround is $250. If you want a rush review, with a 4 to 6-week turnaround, there is an additional $75 fee. In order to submit your book for a review, youll need to send two copies of the book for each service you sign up for. IndieReader accepts Ebook uploads from a Kindle or iPad-compatible file, an Ebook that is gifted from Amazon or another retailer, or a paper copy mailed. There are submission guidelines and forms on the website that makes the submission process incredibly simple.Discovery AwardsThe IndieReader Discovery Awards are another service offered by the IndieReader site for independent authors looking to obtain more exposure for their book. By submitting your work to the Discovery Awards, your work will gain exposure for judges, along with major media outlets such as The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and trade publications like Shelf Awareness and GalleyCat/MediaBistro.In addition to this exposure, winners of the annual IndieReader Discovery Awards will be fastracked to Dystel, Goderich and Bourret Literary Management to be considered for representation. In order to qualify, your book must place in first, second or third in both fiction and nonfiction categories.The top two first-place winners in the fiction and non-fiction categories will receive a Kirk us Indie review, valued at $425. First, second and third-place winners in the fiction and nonfiction categories will also receive a Kindle Paperwhite ($119.99 value), a custom author website and one year of hosting and management from Featherlight ($1,347 value), and consideration of representation from Dystel, Goderich and Bourret Literary Management.In addition to the first through third place winners, there will also be 20 to 40 winners from each sub category. These winners can expect to receive a professional IndieReader review (at a value of $250-$275), exposure to a panel of judges, an IndieReader All About the Book feature, and three stickers pronouncing your book an IndieReader Discovery Awards winner. The stickers can be used on websites, author blogs, sales pages and social media to help independent authors gain exposure and credibility for their work.The winners for Best 1st Book (fiction and non-fiction) will receive a Kindle Paperwhite (at a value of $119.99), and three stickers stating that the book has been awarded the IndieReader Discovery Awards for Best 1st Book.The winners for Best Cover Design (fiction and non-fiction) will receive $250 in cash, and three stickers stating that your book is an IndieReader Discovery Awards for Best Cover Design winner. Additionally, all entries for the contest will receive a verdict (or blurb), which they are free to post on the Amazon, GoodReads, or their own personal webpage. You can visit the signup page to get started.Entry feeThe IRDA entry fee is $150 per book. If you want your book to be considered for more than one category, youll need to pay an additional $50 per category. IndieReader requests three copies of your book for the first category you choose, along with one additional copy for each additional category. As mentioned earlier, IndieReader accepts Ebook uploads from a Kindle or iPad-compatible file, an Ebook that is gifted from Amazon or another retailer, or a paper copy mailed.Reader reviews and IndieReader bookshareIndieReader also offers reader reviews and an IndieReader bookshare service in which readers who have expressed an interest in reading books published by independent authors will review your book and post the review to Amazon and GoodReads. Its important to note that while authors are guaranteed a certain number of reviews based on the services they pay for the website does not guarantee that the review will be positive.The price for reader reviews depends on how many you choose to purchase. For three reviews, the price is $147; for six reviews, the price is $294; and for 10 reviews, the price is $490.In-storeYet another service offered by the site is IndieReader In-Store (IRIS), which catalogs your book as part of a branded collection on Edelweiss, an online catalog service used by independent bookstores and Barnes Noble. Edelweiss is also an interactive research tool for librarians, bloggers and reviewers, as well as a social network for industry professi onals. The cost of this service is $299.IndieReader blogThe IndieReader blog offers advice to authors on various aspects of marketing their work, as well as advice about writing in general. Many of the articles are written by writers who have successfully published independently, giving readers the opportunity to know what other self-published authors have experienced while publishing their book and marketing it afterwards. There is also a category of All about the book, which features reviews of books that have received a 4-star rating or higher on the site.The blog offers a range of posts to keep indie authors engaged, while learning about the industry from experts in it. For example, the most recent post is one providing an overview of Best Reviewed Books of July. Links to ten book reviews are provided, along with a quick description of what each book offers the reader, the genre, and the IR verdict.Another recent post, Brian J. Robinson: ADDERALL BLUES questions everything we th ink we know about ADHD, and it all happens from authentic subjectivity, is an interview with the books author. In it, he describes his work as …a passionate memoir that provides shocking access to the inner workings of the misunderstood ADHD mind. There arent a lot of first person, non-clinical accounts of ADHD, and certainly none that is as entertaining as this one…Final takeawayWhether youre experienced at indie publishing or are just now getting started with the process of writing, self-publishing, and marketing your book, IndieReader is a treasure trove of advice and assistance in finding success in the industry.

Essay about Orientalism - 2624 Words

The definition of orientalism takes up no more than two sentences in the dictionary. Coincidentally, Orientalism came to be such a complex and deep concept which Said devotes his entire book in discussing about it. His book – Orientalism unfolds the history of the Orientalism, reveals the â€Å"dark† side of an orientalist’s mind and describes the different dimensions of Orientalism. He also attempts to expose the truth of the Orient, which he warned that: â€Å"One ought never to assume that the structure of Orientalism is nothing more than a structures of lies or of myths, which were the truth about them to be told, would simply blow away† (Said). In order to understand the truth Said`s referring to, one ought to first understand the origin and†¦show more content†¦And authority here means for â€Å"us† to deny autonomy to â€Å"it† – the Oriental country – since we know it and it exists, in a sense, as we know itâ⠂¬  (Said, 32). [Because they have the knowledge about the Egyptians, they feel like they have the power and authority to take over the nation and colonializing it.] Surely, Balfour’s claim of the profound knowledge about Egypt is actively linked with political imperialism and colonization of Egypt. Said reinforces his argument about knowledge and power once again by referring to the quote by Cromer â€Å"knowledge gives power, more power requires more knowledge, and so on in an increasingly profitable dialectic of information and control (Said 36).Thus, Knowledge serves as a powerful tool to allow the West to explore, control and govern the â€Å"Other†. Consequently, knowledge about the Orient is the start and the result of European domination, possession, and rationalization of the Orient, as one shall see in the following paragraphs. Domination/Possession: Another key feature about Orientalism is that it puts Europe in the position of power and domination (Said, 40). Orientalism promotes the segregation of the EastShow MoreRelatedOrientalism in Pocahontas971 Words   |  4 PagesOrientalism in Disney’s Pocahontas While the name suggests an allusion to only Eastern Asia, or the Orient, Orientalism is a branch of Cultural Studies, an area of literary criticism that has applications in various mediums. The school of critical theory, created by Edward Said, is applicable to novels, essays, social situations, films, and epics alike. One film, to which Orientalism is applicable, is Disney’s Pocahontas. To understand how Orientalism is applicable to a film that takes placeRead MoreEssay Orientalism865 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Introduction† to Orientalism aids readers in understanding the basis for Rhonda Vander Sluis’s companions – prejudice and stereotype – in her search for identity in Turkey. More than anything else, in his â€Å"Introduction† to Orientalism Edward Said attempts to educate his readers about the flaws he sees in the European notion of Orientalism. He identifies generalization as the root cause of differences and misunderstanding between Europe and the Orient. As Said sees it, Orientalism is both an academicRead MoreEssay on Orientalism 2396 Words   |  10 PagesOrientalism is a study of language and traditions of the people and their culture in the Middle East. These studies are mostly done by people outside of the culture that is being looked at, and mostly the studies are being performed by white western men. Edward Said believed that there was a problem with the way in which other people were studying and writing about his culture. He was upset and spoke up when he wrote a booked called â€Å"Orientalism,† in his book he points out many reasons why the studyRead More What Is Orientalism? Essay593 Words   |  3 PagesWhat Is Oriental ism? Said made a clear analogy between orientalism and colonialism. They are both set with the same binary opposition. white/ non white occidental/ non occidental In a very detailed and structured study of the orient (behavior, habit, tradition ...) we document a large amount of fact and data. All compile in a general study they produce the illusion of a well understood and objectively constructed knowledge. These are, in fact, mere observations and purely subjectiveRead MoreOrientalism in Art Essay1840 Words   |  8 Pagesvocabulary that have given it reality and presence in and for the West.†[3] In another words, Orientalism is derived from an experience by Britain and France of the Orient. Paintings such as â€Å"Turkish Bath†, â€Å"The death of Sardanapalus† and â€Å"Odalisque and Slave† reflect the fascinations which the artists experienced or imagined of the Orient. 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First, Said defined Orientalism as anRead MoreEssay on Introduction to Orientalism by Edward Said1478 Words   |  6 PagesIn his introduction to the term â€Å"Orientalism,† Edward Said begins by paraphrasing the writing of a French journalist’s view of the present-day Orient in order to express the major common Western misconception about the East. This misconception exists in the Western mind, according to Said, as if it were irrelevant that the Orient itself was actually sociologically affected. He then goes on to describe the basis of Orientalism, as it is rooted in the Western consciousness. Said uses the phraseRead MoreAladdin And Orientalism : A Little Bit Of The Middle East1239 Words   |  5 PagesSonia Maryam IB English Ms.Rowe February 20 2015 Aladdin and Orientalism Could anyone have thought that the movie Aladdin had more to it than just showing a little bit of the Middle East? That is because the movie Aladdin shows Orientalism in many ways. Orientalism is a canonical text of cultural studies where Said has challenged the concept of Orientalism by: the difference between east and west, the start of European colonization the Europeans came in contact with the lesser developedRead MoreThe Idea of Orientalism Portrayed in James Camerons Avatar3778 Words   |  16 PagesThe Idea of Orientalism Portrayed in James Cameron’s Avatar Abstract In brief, this study discusses about the representation of orientalism idea which is portrayed in the film Avatar. The film tells about the conflict between human and native people in Planet Pandora, where human exploits the land and oppresses the native. This study explores in what way the idea of orientalism is represented and how both narrative and non-narrative aspects of the film helped in delivering that representationRead MoreStuart Hall s The West And The Rest And Edward Said s Orientalism1653 Words   |  7 PagesStuart Hall’s The West and the Rest and Edward Said’s Orientalism both explore notions of power and discourse with regard to the dynamics of the Western world and the non-Western world. The works engage with the concept of a worldwide binary of two unequal sides, and how certain discourses, namely that of â€Å"the West and the Rest†, and Orientalism, have both stemmed from this idea and worked to maintain it. While Hall engages with the idea o f â€Å"the West and the Rest† – the Western world and how it has

Italian Sayings Using the Word Mangiare

Whether or not one has spent time in Italy, the word Mangia! is one of those terms that transports us instantly to a crowded dinner table and reminds us of the self-evident reputation of Italians as incorrigible gourmands. Without a doubt, popular culture and the overabundance of Italian and Italian-inspired restaurants throughout the world have made this word—Eat!—emblematic of the human love for cooking and food and its central place in the human heart and hearth. Of course, mangiare in its basic form means to eat. A simple verb of the first conjugation, regular as a box of Barilla spaghetti. Mangia! or Mangiate! is the imperative. Mangiamo! is the exhortative—an invitation to dig in. But in Italian the act of eating is so profoundly ingrained into the fiber of living and thinking that through the centuries it has taken a central place in language, and it is used in cleverly crafted expressions, sayings, and proverbs as metaphor for consuming, existing, surviving, devouring, adoring, and exploiting—in the good and the bad. Its a bit table knowledge and food descriptor, but a reminder of lifes savvy as well. Ways to Mangiare Coupled with adverbs, adjectives, or complements, these are forms or uses of mangiare at its simplest: Fare da mangiare: to cook; to prepare foodDare da mangiare: to feed, both to animals and humansFinire di mangiare: to finish eatingMangiare a sazietà  : to eat your fillMangiare bene: to eat well (as in delicious food)Mangiare male: to eat poorly (as in bad food)Mangiare come un maiale: to eat like a pigMangiare come un uccellino: to eat like a birdMangiare da cani: to eat badlyMangiare con le mani: to eat with ones handsMangiare fuori: to dine out or outsideMangiare dentro: to eat insideMangiare alla carta: to order off the menuMangiare un boccone: to eat a biteMangiare in bianco: to eat plain food, without meat or fats (when youre sick, for example)Mangiare salato or mangiare dolce: to eat salty or sweet The infinitive mangiare has also taken an important seat at the table of Italian nouns as an infinito sostantivato. In fact, you dont really refer to food as cibo so much as il mangiare or il da mangiare. Mia mamma fa il mangiare buono. My mom makes great food.Mi piace il mangiare sano e pulito. I like clean and healthy food.Portiamo il da mangiare a tavola. Lets take the food to the table.Dammi da mangiare che muoio! Feed me: I am dying! Metaphoric Mangiare And then there are all the good expressions about eating but not really eating: Mangiare la polvere: to eat dirt or to be beatenMangiare a ufo/a sbafo: to eat at someone elses expense; to freeloadMangiare con gli occhi: to eat someone with ones eyes (from lust)Mangiare con i piedi: to eat with bad table mannersMangiare dai baci: to eat up with kissesMangiare vivo: to eat someone alive (from anger)Mangiarsi le mani o i gomiti: to kick oneselfMangiarsi le parole: to mumbleMangiarsi il fegato: to eat ones liver or heart out from spiteMangiare la foglia: to silently perceive whats happeningMangiarsi il fieno in erba: to spend your money before you have it (literally, to eat the wheat while its grass)Mangiare lagnello in corpo alla pecora: to do something too early or soon (literally, to eat the lamb in the sheeps belly)Mangiare quello che passa il convento: to eat whats served (what the convent gives you) And a few metaphoric but practically rooted: Non avere da mangiare: to have nothing to eat/to be poorGuadagnarsi da mangiare: to earn a living Compound Nouns With Mangia There are lots of great compound words formed with mangiare in its present tense, third person singular mangia, and it is easy to understand and remember them by directly translating each part of the word. For example, mangianastri is made of mangia and nastri, which are cassettes. The result is tape player. Italian compound nouns (nomi composti) with a form of mangiare include the following common terms: Mangiabambini:  an ogre who eats children in fairy tales, or a grim-looking person who is, in reality, mild and harmlessMangiadischi: a record playerMangiaformiche: an anteaterMangiafumo: a candle that rids a closed environment of smokeMangiafuoco: a fire-eater (at fairs, or in The Adventures of Pinocchio)Mangialattine: a tin can-crusherMangiamosche: a fly swatterMangiarospi: a water snake that eats frogsMangiatoia: a troughMangiata: a big feast (Che mangiata!)Mangiatrice di uomini: man-eater (feminine)Mangiatutto: someone who eats everything (a person di bocca buona) Mangia-Flavored Epithets Given Italys geopolitical background and long and historically complex struggles for and with powers of many kinds—foreign, domestic, and of economic class—it is not surprising that the word mangiare has inspired all sorts of creative terms for people who are deemed to be usurping power or doing otherwise bad things. Mostly the terms deride people in positions of power, but some also scorn people of poor character, poor people, and people from different regions, revealing Italys longstanding class antagonisms and factionalism. The Italian press, the Internet, and dictionaries are full of common terms compounded from mangia. You may not be able to use them often, but if you are interested in Italian culture they are, at the very least, fascinating: Mangiacristiani:  someone who appears to be so mean as to eat people (cristiani are all people, in secular terms)Mangiafagioli: bean-eater; used by people of one part of Italy to ridicule those of another where the cuisine calls for a lot of beans (fagioli); understood to mean someone coarse, unrefinedMangiamaccheroni:  macaroni-eater; derogatory term for migrants from the SouthMangiamangia: the act of eating constantly, but also used to describe politicians ill-gotten gainMangiamoccoli: a person who feigns an exaggerated devotion to the church (moccoli are candle drippings)Mangiapagnotte: a loafer; often used to describe someone who receives a public salary but does little workMangiapane: bread-eater; a person of little importMangiapatate:  potato-eater; used to mock people who eat a lot of potatoes, mostly GermansMangiapolenta:  polenta-eater; used to make fun of people from Veneto and Lombardia, where they eat a lot of polentaMangiapopolo: a despotMangiapreti: a person who inveighs against the Catholic Church and priestsMangiasapone:  soap-eater; a slight to Southerners (apparently because it was said that they thought that soap handed out by the Americans during the war was cheese and they bit into it)Mangiaufo: a habitual freeloader Most of these can be feminine or masculine and the term does not change—only the article. Proverbs Referring to Mangiare The slogan Chi Vespa Mangia le Mele was part of a famous, late-1960s advertising campaign by Piaggio to promote the Vespa scooter. It translates roughly to, If you [go on vacation with a Vespa or travel with a] Vespa, you eat apples (with a Biblical reference, perhaps). The eating, of course, was key to the invitation to ride. Indeed, the Italian language has much wisdom to give centered on eating: Chi mangia e non invita possa strozzarsi con ogni mollica. May he who eats and invites no one choke on every crumb.Chi mangia solo crepa solo. He who eats alone dies alone.Mangia questa minestra o salta la finestra. Eat this soup or jump out the window!Cià ² che si mangia con gusto non fa mai male. What you eat with pleasure will never harm you.Mangiare senza bere à ¨ come il tuono senza pioggia. Eating without drinking is like thunder without the rain. Mangia! Mangia!

Healthcare Finance in The United States of America Free Essays

In United States the Congress had passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 or MMA and with this imposed a stoppage for 18 months on the starting of new physician owned specialty hospitals. At the same time, they also wanted to know the position regarding certain matters of physician owned heart, orthopedic and surgical specialty hospitals through MedPAC. The team visited sites, made legal analysis and met the share owners in these hospitals and finally presented a report to the Congress. We will write a custom essay sample on Healthcare Finance in The United States of America or any similar topic only for you Order Now It had also gone through the cost reports received from Medicare and inpatient claims of 2002, which was the most recent at that time. This will naturally form the basis of such hospitals being permitted or not. (Physician-owned specialty hospitals) The findings of this committee showed that:- Physician owned hospitals generally treated patients who had less severe problems and concentrated on specific diagnosis related groups and the reason for both of this was that these were expected to be more profitable than other patients. These hospitals do not treat as many Medicaid patients as community hospitals. Regarding the costs of patients in these hospitals for the patients, the Medicare patients did not get benefits of lower costs though the inpatients had shorter periods of stay. There was no appreciable impact of physician owned specialty hospitals on the community hospitals as seen in 2002, and there was also no impact on the financial performance of the community hospitals. Most of the differences in profitability can be rectified by improving the prospective patient system for inpatients that are made by Medicare. Thus according to the findings there are not major differences between the community hospitals and physician owned specialty hospitals in terms of costs or capability for services. (Physician-owned specialty hospitals) Differences among types of hospitals: We shall make comparison of the hospitals in India and USA. In India, apart from the government hospitals, there are a number of large hospitals run by trusts or large corporations. In the city of Bombay or Mumbai, the hospitals named Jaslok or Hinduja are run by trusts and Wockhardt Heart Hospital is run by a major pharmaceutical company. Even when the hospital has been promoted by a physician, still the hospital is run like a corporation as is seen in the case of Apollo Hospitals. There is now a new hospital named as Asian Heart Hospital in Bombay which has been promoted by a physician team and they have a large stake in the hospital. The team of physician is led by one Mr. Panda who is now the CEO of the hospital. These physicians have all invested their own funds, and to get more funds, they have even asked for more contributions from other physicians who are now not resident in India. The hospital is the result of a plan by these physicians in 1993-94. The hospital took about 10 years to complete. Thus one should realize that a hospital takes a long time to take shape up. (Doctors in arms) The biggest problems in the management of hospitals come from physicians and renowned physicians are sought for empanelment by hospitals. The physicians then continually force the hospitals to upgrade their infrastructure and also charge heavy fees from the patients. At the end of the services by the physicians, it is they who get the biggest returns. It is also difficult to retain the physicians as they leave at the earliest opportunity, and this statement is from one of the promoters of the hospital, GW Capital. They are now investing money in the concept of physician managed private hospitals. This resulted in its investment of Rs 150 million or about 3 million dollars in buying a 26 percent stake in another hospital group in Hyderabad, in 2000 called the Care Group. That group has expanded very fast and now has over a 1000 beds in its operations in six centers. (Doctors in arms) Thus the costs of the hospitals will require about 12 million dollars for a 1000 bed operation. At the same time, not all hospitals are made with money in mind and there are hospitals in Chennai or Madras in India which have 150 physicians, 500 nurses and 371 Para-medical staff. The entire team works within a budget of Rs 120 million or 2.4 million dollars. (Healing Ministry of the Madras Diocesan Medical Board) This hospital is run by a religious mission and its objective is to provide service to the people and this hospital does not want to make money, but run at break even costs. In United States, during 2002 there were 48 hospitals found to be physician owned hospitals. Of them 12 were heart hospitals, 25 were orthopedic hospitals and 11 were surgical hospitals. These hospitals are generally very small with average capacities of orthopedic hospitals being 16 beds, the surgical specialty hospitals being 14 beds and heart hospitals are the largest with average capacity being 52 beds. The general conditions of these hospitals are not full fledged as they do not have emergency departments, whereas 93 percent of the community hospitals have emergency departments. The reason for existence of these hospitals is the physician control over the hospitals. (Physician-owned specialty hospitals) At the same time, one of these hospitals has been named as one of country’s top 100 heart hospitals. (Parkwest Medical Center) Financial position of private hospitals: According to available reports, the private hospitals are in a position to take on patients who are capable of paying for them, and not take on patients who have to depend on managed care organizations. This increases the incomes of the hospitals by 20 to 50 percent. This reduces the cost of a bypass surgery at one of the hospitals in India, Care to about Rs 80,000 or $1,700. The cost in India is higher by about 30 to 40 percent in corporate hospitals. Even the new hospital, Asian Heart has predicted a cash break even during the second year of operations, and by the end of the second year it expects to pay a 15 percent dividend to the investor. Thus on an investment of $50 million, the returns would be $7.5 million from the second year. (Doctors in arms) The position in United States is the same, and in spite of some private specialty hospitals not having made any distributions to stockholders, the study showed that the margin in these hospitals was about 13 percent in 2002 as compared to 3 to 6 percent that was seen for community hospitals. (Physician-owned specialty hospitals) The advantages of physician owned specialty hospitals: To find this aspect out, there were discussions with the physicians who were investing in these hospitals. The cardiologists and surgeons want to admit their patients, perform the required procedures and have the patients recover with minimum disturbance. They believe that community hospitals cannot match their services as those hospitals have a variety of services and missions that they have to undertake. The direct control by the physicians help to increase productivity through less disturbances to the schedules in operating room which come from the emergency cases that come about, decreasing the down time between operations between two different surgeries and this is due to cleaning the operating room more efficiently, increased ability to work between two operating rooms even when the operating rooms are blocked due to some other work and better efficiencies through direct control of operating room staff. As mentioned earlier, they also like to form specialty hospitals as they have increases in income. There is some increase due to productivity, but they are able to collect a share of the profits from the facility for themselves and other associated physicians. They concentrate on providing services that are profitable, on treating patients who are less sick and thus more profitable. (Physician-owned specialty hospitals) Even in India the same situation exists and most of the physicians who have now started developing hospitals have been working together earlier, and one of the main aims is to remove the pressure from managed health care systems that they have to face otherwise. There is now a distinct change in the formation of hospitals and new hospitals are being formed by physicians. The total costs have been discussed to some extent, but without the participation of physicians, the hospitals are unlikely to be successful. How to cite Healthcare Finance in The United States of America, Essay examples

Electoral College Essay Example For Students

Electoral College Essay Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College is not important in choosing the president of the United States. I agree with this because it should matter what the voters say, this is a democracy and it should be the peoples final choice, and if the Electoral College changes the voters choice then they will be the ones to blame if our country goes haywire. The Electoral College has a final say in which president will be chosen. Its not right because if the majority of the voters choose one president and the Electoral College chooses another then most of the voters will be upset. They chose that certain president for a reason and it would just be a waste of their time if the candidate they voted for didnt get elected. There are some that feel that the Electoral College in its present form will cause a president to become elected who was not the winner by popular vote. This country has a democratic government. If the whole country doesnt have a say in who is president then it will be only ran by a small group of people which, by definition, is not a democracy. I myself would hope that my vote counts. It really doesnt if a small group of people can overrule the choice my fellow voters and I make. Lastly, I dont think that the Electoral College is a very good idea because each person in this country matters. If they chose a president, even if by popular vote, it was their choice and they will be the ones who have to live with whatever promises that president chooses to make or break to them. If they made a mistake on which president to choose it will be their own fault and they wont have anyone else to blame but themselves. In conclusion I disagree with having an Electoral College because it should matter what the voters say and if there is an Electoral College to make a final decision then its not the voters choice, this is a democracy and it should be the peoples final choice, and if the Electoral College makes a bad decision on who should be elected then it will be their fault and the people will have someone else to blame.

Jaguar free essay sample

You can quickly get a feel for the culture of an organization just by looking around and talking to the people who work for it. For example, some organizations are very dynamic and their people are encouraged to take risks. Others are backward looking and rarely take risks. The culture of the organization provides the meaning, direction and clarity (the human glue) that drives the business to achieve its goals. From time to time it becomes necessary to change the culture of an organization to make sure that it fits the environment in which the organization operates. Changes in the car industry The car industry has changed dramatically. At the start of the twentieth century, the industry was dominated by the achievements of Henry Ford who created a manufacturing system that was known as Fordism. In Fordist organizations, the manufacturing system was geared towards creating standardized products such as the Model T Ford. We will write a custom essay sample on Jaguar or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The needs of the production line determined the life of the production line worker. Workers knew exactly what was expected of them and were given set periods of time to carry out particular operations. This system was very successful, lowered production costs and brought the motor car within the budget of the ordinary family in the west. However, during the 1980s the car industry was transformed by new manufacturing approaches from Japan. Japanese success was based partly on the competitive prices they were able to ask for their products and services, but mainly on their quality. The concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) was developed in the US after the end of World War Two but was implemented first in Japan. It changed the balance of world trade and ed many companies in the west to rethink their attitudes, policies and structure. TQM can only operate when responsibility and power are delegated downwards through all levels of the organization. Responding to changing demands As the world became more competitive, organizations had to respond quickly to rapidly changing demands. They could no longer rely on producing standardized products but had to manage a wider portfolio of as sociated products. This demanded increased flexibility, and the active co-operation of a versatile and increasingly skilled workforce. In the 1980s and the 1990s, many American and European companies adopted more flexible Japanese ways of working so they could respond quickly to changing market conditions. In recent years the world car industry has been rationalized. Instead of hundreds of car companies world-wide, there are ten major global players. Part of this rationalization has seen the development of a new Ford group of companies. In the 1990s Ford took control of Jaguar. It recently overhauled the Halewood plant to produce the new X400 Jaguar and created a new way of working. Many of the employees at Halewood had previously produced Ford Escorts using traditional manufacturing techniques, in which they were not encouraged to show initiative. They now needed to learn new approaches to work which involved empowerment and flexibility; more responsibility was given to the operative at the sharp end of production. What better place to introduce a culture change than by starting with a prestige marque like Jaguar? Strategy To manage the change process at the Jaguar plant, Ford worked closely with a consultancy group called Senn Delaney Leadership. Senn Delaney believes that it is important to align the culture, structure and the strategy of an organization. The organization that seeks to change its strategy without changing its culture will experience resistance to change. The successful management of change is crucial. The strategy of the organization includes the overall business direction and the plan to achieve it. Structure includes the organisational design and model, the processes, systems, policies and procedures that support it. Organizations involved in the hange process often focus on strategy and structure and neglect culture change. As a result, the existing culture acts like an invisible anchor that drags the business down. Teamwork approach In the motor industry in the early 1990s, many employees were not used to making decisions for themselves. They expected to be told what to do. This slowed down change when companies wanted to move on to self-managed teamwork approaches. In the 1990s Jaguar overhauled its app roaches to work to create an environment in which employees were encouraged to ‘take ownership’. They would be involved in managing a process of continuous improvement that revolved around ‘lean production’. Lean production involves standardizing work processes to cut out waste. The standard set is the best identified method of operation at a particular moment in time. This standard is continuously improved. The key to lean production is to identify which production processes add value. Processes which do not add value are cut out so that labour and machinery can focus on added value activities. To introduce lean production at Halewood it was necessary to transform existing attitudes in the workforce. Employees had to take responsibility for introducing new working methods and to continuously suggest further improvements. They would work in small teams with a team leader. The Jaguar Vision To transform working patterns at Halewood, a Halewood Difference Programme was introduced based on a new vision and set of guiding values and behaviours. Jaguar targets industry leadership in quality, value for money, customer care and human resource management. Compatible with these targets the vision for the Halewood body and assembly plant is: †¢ a world class vehicle manufacturing facility producing Jaguar cars for the discerning luxury car buyer, providing maximum job satisfaction and security †¢ a safe environment in which highly motivated employees demonstrate a pride, passion in the product and an earnest desire to drive continuous improvements †¢ a management that respects its employees and is committed to best practices in terms of fairness, recruitment, communications, training, education, diversity and individual employee welfare †¢ anagement and employees working together to achieve shared goals, volume and job growth opportunities †¢ The leading manufacturer in the community, fulfilling environmental responsibilities and proactive in supporting local initiatives. Guiding values and behaviours set out a picture of how people within the plant would work with each other and with external customers on a day -today basis. This provided the basis for a new organisational culture. On a day-to-day basis Halewood people would focus on: †¢ Quality: consistently delivering world class quality products and service. †¢ Customer focus: striving to exceed customer expectations. Accountability/Responsibility: being accountable and responsible for their personal conduct and their tasks. †¢ Respect: treating each other with respect, dignity, courtesy and having pride in the workplace. †¢ Open communication: openly communicating with each other regardless of level. †¢ Teamwork: working together for the good of Halewood as members of one team. †¢ Adaptability and flexibility: showing a commitment to embrace change. The Halewood programme stimulated a more open and democratic relationship between managers and employees as employees became key decision makers. Making the change You cant force a new culture on an unreceptive workforce. Introducing changes in culture involves a detailed programme for introducing new ideas in a participative way. †¢ Needs and assessments measurement The first stage was a series of one-to-one interviews and focus group activities for representatives from all areas of the organization. These identified the cultural strengths and the barriers to change at Halewood. These sessions were designed to find out how employees thought and felt about their work culture, and to provide the feedback to outline the strategy and the key messages for the culture change programme. Management workshops -The next phase involved a series of three day sessions for managers to build up a commitment to the change programme. †¢ Union workshops Union leaders took part in workshops so they could better understand the new Jaguar approach to building cars on the basis of pride and dedication. This gained union support for the change and showed everyone what the benefits would be. †¢ Management and union workshop Management and unions identified a joint approach to take the initiative forward and embrace the new values. †¢ Supervisors’ workshops Supervisors were to play a key role in introducing the new ways of working. Supervisors’ workshops therefore concentrated on how they could help to lead the change process. †¢ Pilot workshops Five pilot workshops of thirty participants taken from all levels of the organization were trialed. The emphasis was on breaking down divisions within the organization so that a new model of team working relationships could be established. †¢ Selection and training of internal facilitators To cascade the Jaguar (Halewood) Difference message across the organization, sixteen internal facilitators from all areas and levels of the organization were selected and trained. Two day workshops for all employees The final stage of the roll out of the culture change programme were a series of two-day workshops led by the internal facilitators. These sessions gave all 3,000 employees a clear understanding of the difference between working on a Ford Escort and creating the new Jaguar X400. They also heightened awareness of the Jaguar Difference values and behaviou rs. The early phases of the new programme were very encouraging. It was immediately obvious that everyone had a common goal to make a success of Halewood. By involving everyone in the culture change programme it was relatively easy to establish a shared vision. Through the workshops, employees built up real enthusiasm for the empowerment process. Employees were motivated by the fact that they had a role to play in the change process. For example, one employee commented favorably on the initiative when he stated, ‘I always thought the company wanted me to leave my brain at the gate’. Conclusion The success of the X400 production system at Halewood is based on three pillars. 1. An emphasis on quality at every stage in the production of the new cars. . The culture change programme – creating an empowered, entrepreneurial and committed workforce, and 3. Establishing centres of excellent practice across the organizations which act as benchmarks for improving performance in areas carrying out similar operations. New facilitators will take the change process forward even further. They are being coached by existing facilita tors and throughout the organization employees are being formed into empowered teams to drive lean production forward. The Halewood plant will provide the benchmark for improvements across the Ford organization in the UK.

Free Essays on Stars & Constellations

What is it that makes our universe work how was it formed and why is it here? Is it merely for our enjoyment and livelihood, or is there from of a large picture aspect of it all? It is hard to know why and how how our solar system came to be but there are several things in science that make it seem more that just a random collection of gases and dust particles formed together to make up a bunch of planets, stars, and all the various other strange phenomenon that you find in space. It has been a question on the minds of scientists for years and years as to what made the galaxy form the way it did was it formed by a supreme being of some sort or was it just purely coincidence. My belief is that to a point there is a need for both sides of this argument and neither side is 100% correct. Although there is no way to prove whether or not there is a supreme being of some sort we have to take into account the fact that most of the world approximately 85-90% of all living human beings on this planet believe in some sort of creator or supreme power who rules over us. Although not the point I feel it important to make sure that we touch on this subject based on the staggering statistics of religious followers in the world. Stars, Planets, Constellations there are so many various objects of interest out there it is difficult to talk about them all so I would like to concentrate on the Constellations and Stars in our Galaxy. The most prominent and well known star because of the inate ability to recognize it and to navigate by it is the North Star. From the earliest recorded record there is reference to the North most star or the Bright star that has always been used as a means of navigation to a Lost travelers with no other means of navigation. Sailors of olden days would plot their course and travel at night to be able to use the night sky as a guide to their travels. Some of the structures of Stars out at certain times of the mon... Free Essays on Stars & Constellations Free Essays on Stars & Constellations What is it that makes our universe work how was it formed and why is it here? Is it merely for our enjoyment and livelihood, or is there from of a large picture aspect of it all? It is hard to know why and how how our solar system came to be but there are several things in science that make it seem more that just a random collection of gases and dust particles formed together to make up a bunch of planets, stars, and all the various other strange phenomenon that you find in space. It has been a question on the minds of scientists for years and years as to what made the galaxy form the way it did was it formed by a supreme being of some sort or was it just purely coincidence. My belief is that to a point there is a need for both sides of this argument and neither side is 100% correct. Although there is no way to prove whether or not there is a supreme being of some sort we have to take into account the fact that most of the world approximately 85-90% of all living human beings on this planet believe in some sort of creator or supreme power who rules over us. Although not the point I feel it important to make sure that we touch on this subject based on the staggering statistics of religious followers in the world. Stars, Planets, Constellations there are so many various objects of interest out there it is difficult to talk about them all so I would like to concentrate on the Constellations and Stars in our Galaxy. The most prominent and well known star because of the inate ability to recognize it and to navigate by it is the North Star. From the earliest recorded record there is reference to the North most star or the Bright star that has always been used as a means of navigation to a Lost travelers with no other means of navigation. Sailors of olden days would plot their course and travel at night to be able to use the night sky as a guide to their travels. Some of the structures of Stars out at certain times of the mon...

Analysis of a compelling project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Analysis of a compelling project - Essay Example While I agree with several of Lanier’s criticism’s of Technology, I nonetheless believe wholeheartedly that Technology is leading us forward and that it is revolutionizing communication in an ultimately positive manner. That said, Technology remains very unpredictable – as in the case of technological singularity – and often difficult to manage and direct once it has been released into the culture, particularly via the economy. Once the marketing cycle has taken up a piece of Technology, its future leaves the hands of the designer forever. Therefore, designers and technologists need to take our embryonic design steps very cautiously as we advance even farther into the realm of Technology. As Lanier explains: [Technology] can change how you conceive of yourself and the world. [Designers and technologists] tinker with your philosophy by direct manipulation of your cognitive experience, not indirectly, through argument. It takes only a tiny group of engineers to create technology that can shape the entire future of human experience with incredible speed. Therefore, crucial arguments about the human relationship with technology should take place between developers and users before such direct manipulations are designed (6). This supposition on the part of Lanier’s I agree with one hundred percent. ... Artificial Intelligence typically receives a negative treatment in the media, particularly in the cases of dystopian visions of a world once Technological Singularity has occurred. The standard plot line features hapless human beings at the mercy of or terrorized by malevolent Artificial Intelligence forms such as those found in I, Robot, Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and AI. The dystopian nightmare scenario of Technological Singularity received full treatment in the 2004 to 2009 sci-fi television series Battlestar Galatica, wherein a race of Artificial Intelligence life forms created by human beings and called the Cylons evolved to the point where they declared war on their human creators, exiled the human beings from their home planet, and hunted them mercilessly across multiple galaxies. While the dystopian, negative treatment of Technological Singularity may be the norm, it originates largely in fear and ignorance. I am not a technophobe, and I do not believe in the inhere nt dystopian view of Technology and Artificial Intelligence. I do however believe in mindful awareness of the power of technology to transform human society – for good or ill. In Lanier’s words, I understand that â€Å"Technology is not innocent, because its consequences are too direct† (Lanier 5). I found the topic of Week Four, You Are Not A Gadget: Technologies, Devices, Mediations to be the most appealing one and the lecture most aligned with my studies. The readings for this topic relate more with my interests in Design and Technology, and I believe that conducting research about this topic will benefit me in my future endeavors in the field of Design and Technology. Before coming to the

The Girl who played with fire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Girl who played with fire - Essay Example Nonetheless, to a bigger extent, this novel is a mirror of the society today, and therefore, presents a challenge, and offers insightful platforms for moral transformation of individuals and whole society. Lisbeth Salander is one of the main characters who carry most of the themes in the novel. Most of the events in this novel are a representation of what happens in the society today. This therefore, plays the role of highlighting these moral concerns in society, thereby, instilling the urge of change in the people who read this novel. The society today is faced with a high level of moral decadence, just as the case in this novel. First, the aspect of violence is rampant in the novel. The author has used different violent scenes to show this. For instance, forms of sexual violence; including rape, shoot-outs, murders, bombings, and axing, are all forms of violence present in this novel. Salander, the main character propagates some forms of violence; while on the other hand, she is al so a victim of violence. She uses violence as a defence mechanism for herself and others. As a victim of violence, Salander’s character suffers in the media and in the social welfare system. â€Å"POLICE TRACKING LESBIAN SATANIST CULT.† (20.173). ... Teleborian had pretended that Salander was violent, which was not the case. The court systems and police force also propagate a form of violence when they fail to address the concerns of rape victims in a just manner. The height of violence is also manifest at the end of the novel, when Salander’s brother buries her alive, after being shot in the head by her father. The novel therefore, highlights violence, which is highly despised in society, but still rampant. Gender and gender discrimination is another moral question present in Larsson’s book. There are both good and bad male characters in this novel. The good men show a higher level of respect for the females. The bad men in the novel are sadistic and perpetuate discrimination of women in the novel. For instance, they show disrespect for women by using obscene words such as â€Å"whore,† â€Å"bitch,† and â€Å"slut† to refer to women. Some of the men are responsible for raping women, killing wo men, and beating them up. â€Å"The press would rip him to shreds. A member of the Security Police who exploited teenage prostitutes†¦If only those fucking cunts hadn't been so young.† (23.29). Gunnar Bjorck views women as sex objects, and does not feel guilty that he abused them, he only fears being exposed. Apart from sadistic men, the media, systems of justice, social, and health institutions also contribute to discrimination of females. â€Å"When it later turned out that Norgren had been convicted for sexual offenses twice before, the prosecutor decided to drop the case. But that did not mean the social welfare report on Salander was set aside.† (21.10). Although Norgeren assaults Salander, he is not punished for it, yet Salander continues to be depicted as a

Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement

Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement Education is the most important part of life to uphold intelligence and human can increase knowledge through which an individual move the world for good and sinful on the basis of his wishes. Education, in fact, is one of the major life processes of human beings, as there are other vital processes to live likewise education, are also a vital process in every aspect of human life. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013) There are many factors which effects on students learning and academic achievement including student performance, teacher role, family support, school environment, peer relationship and the most important factor is the socioeconomic status of parents. According to Mehmood and Saifi (2011), socioeconomic status is a combined measure of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position relative to others, based on income, education, and occupation.† The home environment is influenced by the factors such as parent’s education, occupation, income, and facilities provided to their children. All these factors together can be defined by a single term the â€Å"socio-economic status† (SES) of parents. Thus we can say that the socioeconomic status of parents affects the performance, learning and academic achievement of students. I have selected this topic because of the multiple reasons; the reason is that being a student I have also face many hurdles during my studies till now so those movements force me to choose this topic. Like me, most of the students in our society also face financial problems. So due to low socioeconomic status students cannot compete and unable to achieve their goal. In addition, they become dependent on parents and parents make decisions for them. Moreover many students end up with psychological problems like stress and depression due to the financial crisis and they can’t achieve their ultimate goal. It is generally said that the performance of students in academic depends on the socioeconomic status of their parents. Higher the socioeconomic status the better exposure to learning facilities. If parents are well educated and economically stable they afford their children to get a better education and they always support their children what they want to do. As in literature, it is also stated that well-educated parents ensure their children’s future earning by providing them auspicious learning environment but the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status family even they can’t afford their basic needs. Such students do not have access to learning facilities. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013). Research shows that students from lower socioeconomic background faced a higher risk of low achievement as compared to students from a higher socioeconomic background. Home environment and parents education are directly effect on students learning. (Nasreen. A, 2013). So the environment at home is the basic learning unit and effects a child interest and ambitions for the future. If we look upon on our society most people are more interested in rich people and they show more respect towards them and their children. So research shows that lower Socioeconomic status students have lower and lower academic achievement as compared with students of higher Socio-economic status. When a teacher makes a decision about students based on their class and Socio-economic status, they are taking the first step in checking students from having an equal opportunity for academic achievement. Ghazi et al. (2013). Due to teachers stigma mostly students suffered from their studies and they cannot show good performance in education. So its educators responsibility to overcome this stigma of poverty and help those students to boost up their hidden talent. Being a citizen of a developing country almost more than half of the total population is living in rural areas and they mostly belong to the low socioeconomic family. As our country is on the list of poor countries where the majority of the population belongs to low socioeconomic status. So it’s very difficult for parents to fulfil all the needs of their children. Poverty is the main problem which has a direct effect on students learning especially when it occurs early in the child’s life. When it remains throughout their life it influences child development in different ways, like the physical and mental health of the child as well as it influences on parents health also. It also influences child affective interactions. According to Karwowski (2012), Parents’ social position influences many aspects of their childrens school careers. The higher social position of parents of children with disabilities may make it easier for them to meet their costly needs, as well as to act as they support their children in contacts with educational institutions and to help them in their studies. I have also experienced this kind of situation in my school life. When I completed my secondary education with good grades, I got admission in Aga Khan higher secondary school but unfortunately, at that time, my father lost his job. At that time I had no any option to get admission even I couldn’t continue my studies and I missed one year and I felt at that time. Even I didn’t talk to my family members and it was a moment of disappointment for me and the family as well. At that time I consulted a counsellor who advised me to continue my studies in another college. After all these situations I realized the importance of socioeconomic status.at that time I became very sad because it was very difficult for me to cope with that situation. Due to the economic crises, I had to leave my previous school which was at the top level in our area. In literature, it is also stated that parents income level is an important factor that affects the academic achievement and performance o f their children. If the parents earn good and adequate than there would be less stress for the parents as well as for their children. They will provide learning resources easily to their children. While parents with low income, they cannot afford easily their children such a learning environment which becomes a barrier in the learning process. (Ahmad. I Khan.N, 2012). In addition, low income of parents also leads to conflicts in families due to lack of access to basic needs of their children. So the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status they cannot get a quality education and they cannot access new technology facilities like the internet to get information and they are unable to acquire new technology. As in a research among the students of a university in Sargodha shows that students who are getting facilities of new technology show high grades and they show better performance as compared to those students who belong to low socioeconomic status. Azher et al,. (2013). Another factor which affects students learning and academic achievement is parents education. Educated parents can easily understand the basic needs and important resources for their children. For the progress of any individual education plays a vital role in their life. According to Ahmad and Khan (2012), parent’s education level play an important role in the academic performance of their children. Because educated parents can easily manage the difficulties in any mode of their children’s education and they know how to encourage to create interest in the academic performance. Educated parents can easily manage their timetable to check and balance their daily activities.in addition, especially mother education is very important for child development which has a big effect on a child’s performance and academic achievement. According to Lacour. M Laura. D (2011). It is stated that mother education has an important effect on children’s score rather than parents income. The mother’s educational level has 20% higher efficiency than the father’s education level on the academic achievement of students. Another negative effect of low socioeconomic status is the cognitive development of children. Most parents use alcohol and other substance like cigarettes to cope up with stress during financial crises as I encountered such a client in my neighbour who always drinks alcohol when he faces any problem. He has two children and both are not good at their studies. Both of them always missed their classes and they even cannot solve simple mathematics problems. According to Brogan (2009). The families among low socioeconomic status there are more incidents of substance abuse, which effects on their child’s cognitive development. Especially if any mothers use alcohol during pregnancy their children are more prone to attention problems and the children with premature birth develop neurological problems like mental retardation. They also cause lessened brain development. All these problems lead to learning and performance disabilities which effects on academic achievement of children. Being a nursing student it’s our responsibility to teach about the importance of education for the better development of child and family. Another important factor is parent’s income which influences a student’s performance, therefore, it is recommended that the government should take some serious initiatives to provide jobs to people and raise the socioeconomic status of people. The government should provide financial support and should give scholarship especially to those who cannot afford the expenses of education. Mass media also play an important role in the awareness among people regarding the poor literacy condition in our country on account of socioeconomic problems.in addition, we can counsel students to do extra efforts along with their studies so that they don’t have to compromise with their studies. In conclusion, I want to say that keeping the view of the above discussion there is a direct relation between socioeconomic status and students learning and academic achievement. Especially the parents income and education level which has a great impact on children academic achievement. Therefore it’s very important to raise the socioeconomic status of people so they can easily afford their children education expenses. For this, we can have interventions individually and on government level like educating parents, mass media awareness, and scholarship etc. As it is stated in a study which is conducted in International Islamic University Islamabad that socioeconomic status has a significant impact on students learning. Akhter (2012).

Personal Philosphy Essay

It is important for teachers to develop their own educational philosophy. It is important because this philosophy defines the teacher and what they stand for. The philosophy describes the teacher’s attitude, their teaching styles, and how they feel about their students being successful. â€Å"A teacher’s personal philosophy of education is a critical element in his or her approach to guiding children along the path of enlightenment. † (Examples, 2013) Writing philosophies at the beginning of your teaching career is very helpful. Once you begin teaching for some time you notice that those initial philosophies change. Writing teaching philosophies are important to teachers because it identifies their thoughts, beliefs, and what they represent in the classroom. Personal Philosophies After thinking and realizing what I stand for in the classroom, I came up with these three philosophies that identify me. I believe that every student is a special education class can learn. Regardless of the child and their disability I believe that every child in a classroom is able to learn. It does not matter how small the progress is just as long as there is progress. I believe that inclusion has both positive and negative aspects on teachers and students. Inclusion allows students to be mainstreamed with peers their age. This gives them a chance to be around students their age as well as learn new things. Sometimes inclusion causes special services student to act out. This happens because they are not familiar with the information and they act out so they will not be embarrassed because their lack of knowledge. Finally, I believe that one-on-one time with special education students is valuable. Working with students individually helps them a lot. The teacher gets a chance to see exactly where they need help and are able to answer all their questions. Philosophies That Relate To Me â€Å"I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. † (Sample, 2013) After reading this philosophy I realized how much this should be included in one of my philosophies. I believe that each student is different. I also believe that each student should be handled differently and appropriately in order for them to show growth. Not only should a teach help the student grow educationally but they should assist them in growing socially, physically, and emotionally. It is a teacher’s job to produce growth in their students. That is why they should cover all aspects available in order to prepare their students for the real world. This philosophy covers everything I believe in as a teacher. In order for a student to learn they have to be comfortable and feel secure with their surroundings. In order for a student to open up to a teacher and peers they have to be comfortable with their surroundings. That is why it is important for teachers to provide a relaxed, secure classroom for the students. A classroom that welcomes questions, discussions, and learning. In the beginning the teacher should let the class know that questions are always welcome and that no one is allowed to laugh. Once a student realizes they have a teacher who always want to hear their questions and cares about them and how they learn, the student will feel secure and open to learn. This philosophy can be adopted as one of my own because I am aligned and stand for everything it says. â€Å"I believe the children are our future. † (Sample, 2013) Children are our future. In order for us to have a bright future, we have to prepare our youth the lead the country in an outstanding way. As a special service teacher I think it is important to prepare our students for the real word. Not only do we prepare them intellectually, we prepare them mentally, physically, and emotionally. As a teacher I think in order to prepare students to be our future we have to teach them everything they need to in order to function in society. In order for children to be our future we have to help them be successful by teaching them the necessities. In special education classes independent living skills can be taught. In order for our children to be our future, these things have to be taught. In order to be our future we have to teach them everything that is beneficial for our children to function properly in and outside of the classroom. â€Å"I believe that children learn best from expert teachers who know what they are talking about. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) I believe that a certified teacher should be in charge of a classroom. Although there is teacher’s assistance in classrooms to help I do not believe that they should lead discussions. I think that our children should be influenced by a certified teacher. Teachers go through lots of training and take classes that teacher’s assistants do not. Although they are trained to handle behavior, they are nor trained nor certified to teach. Students should be taught by someone who knows how and what to teach. I believe that students learn from expert teachers. An expert teacher is someone who has a degree and has met all state requirements to be certified. And that is who should teach our children, an expert teacher. â€Å"I believe that an effective teacher helps leaner increase their awareness of significant social and political issues so that they can have an impact on these situation. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) This philosophy has some points that I agree with. I do agree that teachers should keep students aware of the political and social issues that are going on. That is important so that students are aware of the current events. I think that this philosophy is important. It is important for student to know how to handle certain situations that deals with the economy and government. When students enter the real world they should have some knowledge of the government and how it works. They should be familiar with what goes on so that they are able to handle certain situations when they are older. Voting is one of these things they should be familiar with and the procedures in order to be registered to vote. This philosophy is one that I will adopt or add to one I already have. Conclusion Having a personal philosophy is very important. As a special education teacher I think it is important to have more than one. Each year I teach I either amend my philosophies each year or add a new one. The more I teach the more things I begin to believe in. A teacher and their philosophies are important because the students, parents, and community are aware of what to expect from you as an educator.

The Amish Community: the Effects of Subsistence on Aspects

The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Tristin Bovee ANT 101 Ilda Jimenez y West October 29, 2012 The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Any person who observes an Amish community may catch a glimpse of a lifestyle that looks as if it adheres to no modicum of logic. Why would a whole group of people choose to live without the technology that makes life so much easier? The answer is simple and uncomplicated; cultural preservation.The Amish are culturally aware of themselves, and as such have put forth the effort to sustain their traditions and way of life for hundreds of years (Kraybill, 2001). The further technology advances in the world outside of the Amish community, the broader the Amish lifestyle becomes from the modern American culture amongst which they live. However, if the Amish belief system is viewed from an anthropological perspective, their values and reasoning is much more understandable to modern thinkers . There are many different sects of the Amish belief system but for the sake of simplicity, this paper will concentrate on the Old Order Amish.The Amish faith sprung out of traditional Protestantism in the sixteenth century. Then referred to as Anabaptists, the Amish believed that baptism should not occur in children or infants, but only in adults that can make the decision for themselves (Kraybill, 2001). They also called for a separation between church and state, and a return to literal interpretation of the bible. Suffering extreme persecution for their beliefs, the Amish fled to northern Europe to escape harsh treatment from authorities and religious leaders alike (Fischetti, 1997).While living in these remote regions, the Amish grew dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture has been the primary mode of Amish life ever since. Many Amish beliefs today are stemmed from their subsistence strategy of emerging agriculture. Body The most widely known belief of the Ami sh community involves the refusal to use electricity or modern technology, such as television, in their homes. The Amish belief system is centered around family and community values and as such, they hold a strong conviction that modern technology shatters those relationships (Fischetti, 1997).The use of electricity opens the doors for mass media influence which holds the possibility of fracturing Amish traditional values. The very values that the Amish hold are a result of their emerging agricultural subsistence. When livelihood depends on bringing in crops and dairying, community and family are the primary modes of labor, and cooperation is of the utmost importance in order to maintain their way of life. Some analysts argue that the individualism seen in modern cultures is caused primarily by industrialization (Kraybill, 2001).By avoiding modern technology and said industrialization, the Amish believe they are maintaining their closely knit communities. From the etic perspective, this may seem to limit the quality of life that the Amish live, especially their youth, but from an emic perspective, this is the lifestyle that they know works for them and does not challenge what they believe. Amish adults are only looking out for the wellbeing of their children on a spiritual level. Like band societies, the Amish do not believe in accumulating wealth; they believe in having what one needs to survive.Beyond enduring, what is important to them is helping each other, which is an aspect in most cultures that grow or forage for their own food (Marlow, 1996). Amish and band societies have much in common, such as their reciprocal economic system of general reciprocity. A reciprocal economic system is a variety of trade between family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). General reciprocity is an exchange without an instant return or a determined value of the trade (Nowak & Laird, 2010); this is what the Amish community practices between members.Within the Amish, assistance or supplies are given freely to those who are in need of it; the provider knows that anyone in their society would do the same for them under similar circumstances. Due to their belief in self-sufficiency within their community, the Amish do not believe in government assistance. Coupled with the collective Amish decline of private health care, one may wonder how they pay for medical expenses; their church and community. The Amish church picks up most medical costs, and what it does not cover is picked up by the individual family and community.The Amish lifestyle is based upon the literal interpretation of the Christian bible, as well as a set of unwritten, adaptable guidelines called the Amish Ordnung. The Amish Ordnung provides the Amish community with cultural capital, or awareness of the morals, principles, convictions and responsibilities of Amish life (Kraybill, 2001). It outlines correct behavior, clothing choice and technologies that are deemed acceptable for use without fear o f destroying the family (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). The guidelines that the Amish Ordnung outlines are changeable.This is to better facilitate solutions toward the difficulties of living in contemporary society while maintaining their cultural heritage and beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). While many people living in modern society have faith of some kind, the Amish live their faith every day. Every aspect of their life is centered around their biblical interpretations and beliefs. Family and community are a huge part of the Amish belief system which is evident by the way their kinship systems work and live together. The Amish are a patriarchal society.Men are the breadwinners and thus the head of the household; women ensure the upkeep of the home and the upbringing of the children (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These gender roles begin at a very young age. In some societies, such as pastoralist societies, this division of labor via gender creates an environment of ine quality in favor of male family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is not the case in an Amish household; each family member is respected and valued for the person they are, and also for the work they accomplish.The strong nuclear family and the division of labor being gender-based provide the Amish with a strategy to impress upon their children the importance of their beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). Young members of an Amish community are not required to be baptized into their faith until eighteen years of age (Kraybill, 2001). Eighteen years living within an Amish community results in these kids knowing nothing else and it is often easy for them to make the decision to continue living their experienced lifestyle. However, should anAmish child refuse, they would be shunned. Shunning is the practice within the Amish community of excommunicating members who do not hold to the community beliefs. Most parents would like to keep their children as close as possible, which is ju st another motivation for immersing their children in the Amish world in order to keep them from being shunned. Often, two or three generations of extended families live in neighboring homes and work the same farmland. This is because a large part of who makes up an Amish community is determined by geographic proximity (Kraybill, 2001).Amish grandparents will often retire to a home on the farm referred to as a dowdy house (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These practices demonstrate the provision of a support system through all stages of life. Societies which practice agriculture for subsistence often establish large families to assist with the amount of labor required for farming (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is demonstrated in Amish families, which on average produce six children per nuclear family (Kraybill, 2001). However, agriculture is becoming less common amongst Amish communities as there is little farmland large enough to accommodate them.This has led many Amish families to re cognize the importance of family planning, since little farming requires less farm labor and family assistance with farm chores (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). In addition, many Amish families have turned to selling crafted items to supplement the income lost from the declining amounts of agriculture. In the book, Riddle of Amish Culture, author Donald Kraybill (2001) states that â€Å"the hallmark of Amish society has been a close-knit, highly integrated community where the threads of social life are woven into a single fabric that stretches from cradle to grave† (pg. 19, para. 4).This quote emphasizes the Amish social life centering on family, community and church from birth to death. Social activity in the Amish community can be described in three words; family, community, and church. Amish society is organized into three basic social units. The first unit, the settlement, consists of Amish families living within a common location and typically ranges in size from a dozen families to several thousand. The second unit, the district, is the organizational unit above the family and refers to the church. One church district usually includes twenty-five to thirty-five families within the immediate area.The third unit, affiliation, is the collection of church districts that hold similar religious practices and cooperate with each other (Kraybill, 2001). Amish children are taught in parochial schools, in which the highest level of education achieved is the eighth grade (Kraybill, 2001). The Amish believe that their way of life does not require more than an eighth grade education; most Amish children know how to run a household well before they finish their schooling. Conclusion If it weren’t for their way of life, they would have been acclimated to societal norms long ago.However, the Amish people are capable of seeing the world from an emic and etic perspective, ostensibly at the same time. Because of this awareness, they are able to take the corre ct steps to ensuring the survival of their cultural and spiritual beliefs. REFERENCES: Donnermeyer, J. F. , & Friedrich, L. (2002). Amish society? : An overview reconsidered. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 8(3), 14. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/220297959? accountid=32521 Fischetti, P. R. (1997). The Amish. Washington, United States: Educational Extension Systems. Retrieved from http://search. roquest. com/docview/189310852? accountid=32521 Kraybill, D. B. (2001). Riddle of Amish Culture (Revised Ed. ). Baltimore, MD, USA: John Hopkins Univeristy Press. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford/docDetail. action? docID=10021650&ppg=2 Marlow, E. (1996). Teaching about another culture? : The Old Order Amish. The Social Studies, 87(4), 161. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/274834778? accountid=32521 Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://conte nt. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/ch00